Dredging machine attachment



May 2, 1933. s. MAROTTE DREDGING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed April 7, 1952 Attorneys Patented May 2, 1933 1 UNITED STATES Gannon MAROTTE, or BIENVILLE, QUEBEC, CANADA DREDGING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Application filed April 7, 1932. Serial No. 603,844.

The present invention relates to attachdesignatesthe hull of a dredging appaments for dredging machines and the like. An important object of the invention is i the provision of a dredging machine attach- 5 ment adapted to automatically render inoperative the movable dredging mechanism when an object, exceeding predetermined dimensions, is engaged and carried to a predestined position thereon.

19 A further object of the invention is the provision of control gear operatively associated with the moving dredging mechanism of a dredging machine disposed to discontinue operation of the mechanism when an object, of such size as is apt to cause injury to the mechanism, is lifted thereby.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of the above character particularly adaptable for use in 0 connection with dredging machines of the endless bucket type wherein the bucket chain extends through a relatively large recess or slot in the hull, the attachment being designed to enable removal of objects posi- 5 tionedon the bucket chain so as to preclude unobstructed passage through the recess in the hull.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of the above character which can be installed on a dredging machine at a relatively low cost and which will be reliable in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the descrip- 5 tion progresses.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in whlch like reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the 0 same:

connected a steam inlet conduit 16.

ratus provided with a longitudinally extending recess or slot 11.

Pivotally connected with a superstructure on the hull and normally extending through the slot 11 therein is a vertically adjustable frame 12 in the form of an elongated boom. Trained over rotary sprockets journaled in the ends of the frame 12 is a continuous chain 13 having attached thereto, at spaced intervals, dredging buckets 14.

The endless buckets are driven, during the digging or dredging operation, through a series of drive gears having connection with a steam engine, indicated at 15, to which is The admission of steam through the conduit 16 is controlled by a valve mounted in the line actuated by a lever 17.

Attached to the elongated frame 12, adjacent the outer end thereof, is a tripping rocker member, generally indicated at 19, including a transverse rock shaft 20 connected by means of bearings 21 with the top section of theframe At each end of the rock shaft 20 are provided right angular tripping arms 22 normally disposed in transversely spaced parallel positions projecting upwardly from the frame at each side of the bucket chain structure, as shown to advantage in Figures 1 and 2. At the outer end, "each of the arms 22 is formed with an angular hook extension 23.

onnected with'the central portion. of the rock shaft 20 and projecting downwardly therefrom, that is, in a direction opposed to the extension of the arms 22 is a lever 2%.

To the outer end of the lever 24 is connected a flexible member 26, as for. instance a rope or cable which extends longitudinally through the frame 12 and is trained over a grooved roller 27 rotatably mounted about the pivot shaft of the boom frame. The rope 26 is alsotrained over an auxiliary guide roller 28 journalled at the end of a bracket 29 and extends to the end of the valve lever 17, to which it is connected.

Under normal operating conditions, the arms 22 of the tripping member extend at substantially right angles to the plane through the top guide track of the frame 12 as shown in full lines at Figure 1. When an object, whose transverse dimension exceeds the width of the slot 11 in the hull or which extends laterally so as to prevent its carriage through the slot, is picked up by the endless bucket chain, it will, during its initial upward movement, contact with one or both of the tripping arms 22, causing the arms to swing to a retracted position and, in consequence thereof, swinging the lever 24 forwardly. The forward swinging movement of the lever 24 will pull the'rope 26 so as to swing the valve lever 17 from its former open position to a valve closing position, cutting off the steam supply and discontinuing the operative movement of the bucket chain.

The interfering object is then to be removed from the chain and operation of the dredging mechanism thereafter continued by manually swinging the valve lever 17 to a valve opening position, and simultan-emisly restoring the tripping member 19 to its normal operative position.

By the use of my present blocking of and injury to the dredg lg mechanism, caused by objects which cannot be carried through the slot in the hull, obviated and a substantial loss of time rcquired to remove such objects elinii ate-d.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes as to the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. v

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim i p 1. In combination with a dredging device having an endless chain, digging buckets on said chain, a motive aower source for actuating the chain, and a regulating device for controlling the action of the power source, a forked member pivoted in the path of the endless chain and extending at each side of the travelling buckets, and connect ing means between said forked member and the regulating device, whereby said device is actuated to an inoperative position whenever the forked member is engaged by material above a given size carried by the said buckets.

2. The combination with a dredging device having an endless chain, buckets on said chain, means for actuating said chain, and a regulating device for controlling the chain actuating means, of a pivoted fork pivoted transversely to the endless chain and having the arms thereof in a plane transverse to the plane of travel of the buckets, and flexible means connecting the fork and-theregulating device for stopping operation of the said chain whenever the arms of the fork are engaged by material carried in the buckets exceeding a predetermined maximum. size.

8. A dredging apparatus comprising in combination with an endless chain, digging buckets attached to said chain and travelling therewith, a source of power to actuate said chain, and a regulating member controlling the said power source, a two-armed fork pivoted transversely of the endless chain, the arms extending on each side of the buckets and transverse to their travelling path, a lever secured to the middle of the fork and in line with the arms, and a flexible connection between said lever and the throttling member.

t. In a dredging machine of the character described, in combination, an endless travelling chain carrying buckets, means to act u ate said chain, and a safety device comprising a pair of arms secured to a. shaft journalled transversely of the chains line of travel, said arms extending above the plane of the chain and on each side of the buckets, and a flexible connection secured to an extension of the shaft and connected to the chain actuating means, whereby the movement of said chain will be stopped when objects carried by the buckets, and exceeding a maximum allowable size, contact with the arms of the safety device.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 4 V

GEDEON MARO TE. 

